Fabric Clocks

We made fabric clocks at guild yesterday. 

The one on the lower left is mine.  I love them all!

Melinda

Last Beginning Machine Piecing Class

We had the last class last night.  A couple of people were unable to attend but I am hoping to get photos of their quilt tops later. Here are the quilts.

As usual it is so much fun to see all the different fabric choices and how they turn out.

Melinda

Tahitian Applique Class

One of the classes I took at the Chattanooga AQS show was Tahitian Applique.  I learned a lot and now have a beautiful UFO to add to my collection!

It was an all day class and we started by picking out a pattern, folding our fabric and pinning the pattern on the fabric.  Next was cutting it out and placing it on the background.  Since Didi McElroy was the teacher (by the way a wonderful teacher) we used Roxanne’s Glue-Baste-It, which she invented and named after her mother. After glue basting the design we were ready to start appliqueing.  I learned a lot about needle-turn applique in a couple of hours.  I only got started on the applique but at least I feel confident enough to continue stitching.

Here is my piece being shown during show and tell right after lunch.

Great fun!

Melinda

Halloween Blocks and Halloween Lighted Bag

I made two more Halloween blocks for the block lottery.  I still have some more fabric but I think three will be enough.  Here they are.

I had forgotten how much fun it is to make wonky stars. 

I finally remembered to take couple of photos with the Halloween bag with the lights turned on.

It is really cute – even cuter with the lights turned on.  There is a pocket inside to hold the battery pack.

Melinda

Halloween Block

At the Allatoona Guild we have a block lottery each year.  It used to be Christmas fabrics but this year we are doing Halloween.  How it works is that the guild buys fabric, cuts it into fat quarters which are then sold to the members.  Everyone who wants to, buys a fat quarter and then makes up to five blocks using their own fabrics and a recognizable amount of the featured fabric.  For each block we make, our name goes into the lottery.

When all the blocks are received the chairperson sorts the blocks into sets (12) with leftovers made into small kits for table runners, etc.  At the December meeting the block sets are hung around the room and the drawing is held. I have to admit that I won 12 Christmas blocks several years ago and they still are not made into a quilt.

Anyway, I made one block today and hope to make a couple more.  I will be happy with 2 or 3 blocks.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–September 14, 2015

Today on my design wall is my Allatoona BOM House Quilt.  I spent some time last week and got it caught up through the 9th month.

I got all the checkerboard pieces sewn together and even have the rest of them done and just patiently waiting for the blocks to be made.  I am really liking it.  It calls for 4 borders after this.  First will be a small border of the lime green, followed by slightly larger but still very small of the white dots and then another tiny border (1/2 “ finished) before a wider finishing border.  I plan to start looking for the final border soon but have no idea what to choose.

For more design walls, go to Patchwork Times.

Melinda

One Block Wonder Class

I taught a One Block Wonder class yesterday.  There were five students and completely different fabrics being used.  I love seeing how they turn out.

It is really going to be fun to see these as they get finished.  Can’t wait.

Melinda

Halloween Bag

I made a Halloween bag for the shop – it is so cute.

It has little purple lights – I will get a photo tomorrow with the lights turned on.  It is already a hit at the quilt shop.

Melinda

Christmas Quilt Finished!!!

I finally finished the Christmas Quilt.  It turned out great!

I got a bit carried away quilting.  Here are some close-ups.

The pattern is called Fair Isle Quilt by Freshly Pieced.  I used Kona Cotton in three colors plus white.  The backing is an extra wide white on white.

It was a lot of work with lots and lots of small pieces but now I think it was worthwhile.

Melinda

Inprov Blocks

Here are my inprov blocks for the next Modern Quilt Guild meeting.  We were given an orange (or blue) fat quarter and told to put it together with another solid fat quarter.  I choose yellow.  The next directions were to cut a curve and switch the colors then sew them back together.  Next was to cut another curve and the switch again and sew together.  Then we were instructed to cut one to three straight edges and insert a strip in each cut.  I chose to do three cuts.

We are to turn them in at the October meeting.  They will then be trimmed and turned into donation quilts.  Should be fun.

Melinda

BOM Day at Allatoona

Our monthly meeting was yesterday and there will several quilts in progress being shared.  I started the September block but when I got the rest of them out, I discovered that I used the same two fabrics that are in the August block so I am remaking 18 tiny flying geese with new fabrics.  Another reminder of why a design wall is so important.  If I had looked at the previous blocks I wouldn’t have made that mistake.

The houses above are not in the right hour.  The block with the flower on it is the August block with the fabrics I started the flying geese with.

Aren’t the quilts going to be fun.

Melinda

Beginning Machine Piecing Class Six

Another great class last night.  First we had a little party with the ice cream, blackberry cobbler, pineapple bacon pound cake, cookies, cheesy bread sticks, ranch crackers, apricot bars and more!  Yum!  Here is the ice cream being made.

I used a recipe from Martha Stewart that involved vanilla beans and a custard base.  Takes a lot of time but it was worthwhile. Here is a link to the recipe I used.

We worked on flying geese blocks.

Next week we start putting the quilts together.

Melinda

Design Wall Monday–September 7, 2015

Hope everyone is having a happy labor day.  I am busy making ice cream for tonight as well as trying to finish quilting my Christmas Quilt.  On my design wall today is my Allatoona BOM – the house quilt.  I am still behind on it and the monthly meeting is tomorrow.

I have the block made for June but the house hasn’t been built around it and I still need to make July and September plus about a million four patches for the rest of the sashing.  I will be working on this on our Monday sew-ins until I get caught up.

For more design walls, go to Patchwork Times.

Melinda

Veteran’s Quilts at Allatoona Quilter’s Guild

Last March at our annual retreat the theme was Rosie the Riveter Goes to Red Top Mountain.  During the retreat we all made blocks that would be made into quilts for local veterans.  Over 53 people worked on the quilts and we ended up with six quilts.  All the same basic pattern but different fabrics and they ended up different sizes.  The members of the guild were asked to nominate local veterans to receive a quilt and we found six wonderful veterans who were able to join us for the presentation of the quilts and recognition of their service.

Last Tuesday we had the presentation of quilts. The six gentlemen in the photo joined us to received quilts.  On the right, in the blue shirt, is Cathy Wells, the mother of Skip Wells.  I am sure you all know who Skip is.  He is one of the five service members serving in Chattanooga, when he and his fellow Marines (along with a Navy man)  were killed by a terrorist. This happened in July.  He was only 21 years and is the grandson of Pat Trapanese, one of our members and my good friend.  Pat is standing behind her daughter.  Her husband (Skip’s grandfather) is on her side.

After the moving ceremony, we moved to another room and had a wonderful picnic with fried chicken supplied by the guild.  The rest of the food was furnished by members of the group – I took deviled eggs and a blackberry cobbler.  It was a wonderful picnic lunch and at each place was an American Flag pin as a remembrance of a wonderful day.

It made us all proud to be able to show a small amount of thanks for our freedom that is represented by veterans like these and many, many more.  Thank your for service.

Melinda

Table Topper for Sweet Home Marietta

The three quilt shops in Marietta are having a small shop hop in a couple of weeks.  Each of the shops will have a pattern related to tableware and each person who comes to the shop will be given a copy. Our pattern is for a table topper and each of us who work at the shop is making one.  We all chose fabrics and different themes/seasons.  Mine is a bright Christmas line and it was fun to make.

I got it quilted and bound and even put a label on it.  Fun!  I can’t wait to see the others.

Melinda

Update on Beginning Machine Piecing Class

I haven’t been posting but I did take photos at the last class.  Here they are.

Next week we will make the final blocks – flying geese.  Because it is a holiday we are having a little party and I am making ice cream. 

Melinda